9 March 2022 10:55 pm Views - 2557
The media personnel who went to cover the official event denied access to cover the handing over the items used by the state Minister Jayantha Samaraweera, who resigned recently.
The security guards at the state ministry office entrance were advised to close the gates and not to allow the media.
By that time several media personnel entered through the gate and began covering the event.
The former State Minister's media Secretary Rohana Warnakulasooriya confirmed that invitations had been sent to the media to cover the event, and incidentally, the invitation was sent by the Ports and Shipping Ministry.
Warnakulasooriya said it was very unethical and said the minister has the right to disclose to the country about his relinquishing the ministry, and on the meantime, the people have the right to know about that event through the media.
However, the security officers again came to the media personnel who were waiting outside the gate and tendered an apology. They said that a senior official of the State Ministry had ordered them to halt the media from covering the event.
Later, Minister, Samaraweera informed the gate to let the remaining media personnel to cover the event.
The Minister handed over the office belongings that were used by him during his tenure.
The media briefing was scheduled to be held at 11.00 am. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi